Hermia Shelton
Name Given at Birth: The name bestowed upon me at birth was Mary Hermia Shelton, though everyone doth call me Hermia
Nicknames: Hermia is how I am called, It is my middle name and far more unique than any other at court. And as my dearest friend Helena was named Mary Helena Talbot, it was a much more clear way of differentiating between us as children. Whenever mother or father would call for Mary we would both come running not knowing whom they were beckoning. At a young age our middle names were put to use and it has seemed to stick into our adolescent years and beyond. I can ne’er think of the last time I was called to as Mary
Hometown or where you were born: I was born in the lords year 1514 in Norfolk but upon my fathers new title, bestowed by His Royal majesty, we did swiftly move to Canterbury.
Current Residence: Canterbury, it is a lovely place that you must visit. You would be doing a boon unto yourself.
Age: I am in my 19th year and beyond ready to wed my love, although my father has chosen another for my hand. That Demetrius, as he were called, will ne’er poses my hearts affections.
Class: I am the Daughter of the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, and a lady of the court. Wherefore would this question be asked of a lady such as myself? Is it not obvious to ev’n the blindest of eyes?
What do you do, your main function in life/society: I have grown to my womanhood in my fathers house with my dearest friend Helena. I am now to become a lady-in-waiting to my dear cousin, Her Majesty, Queen Anne Boleyn, much like my older sister Madge has done, I have been improving at my skills in sewing and embroidery as well as my singing in hopes that Her Majesty would invite me to join her.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: I have never seen a stream that comes higher than my knees, how am I to have opportunity to swim in such a crude manor?
Do you make fun of people: I would never make fun of a person, laugh at their antics? Yes! Openly Mock them? No, for father would not be pleased if he were to hear of me doing such things.
Favorite Color: The color I bestow my highest favor upon is the Blue of my Lysanders’ eyes. They doth display the color and strength of the sea as it rolls in its waves just after the storm settles.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: Nay, how am I to be made a lady if first I am made a common criminal?
Closest friends/How did you meet: I do have but one truly dear friend, she is as a sister to me. Dearest Helena came to my home in Canterbury at a young age. She was to be made a ward of our home and raised to be a lady of the court, in so she came to be a true confidant. We did but share our room growing from our youth to this day and have spent many a late even gossiping in our whimsy. Alack, I will miss our intrigues when I do leave this home. For our arrangement has been far beyond meet.
One Pillow or two: Two for myself, filled with the finest goose feathers in Canterbury, though I do share with Helena, perchance she ask such of me. The softness of my pillows is mirrored in the gentility of my dreams as I drift off to thoughts of Lysander.
Pets: : I did not grow up with pets running through, unless you consider the animals we tend as pets. Alas, with my new Mother, Anna, in home, it could quickly become a possibility. She has a way with my father I have ne’r witnessed before. She is not much beyond my years and, mayhap, could sway my Father into agreement of a household pet.
Favorite Type of Music: I do so enjoy the musicians attending court. The beautiful melodies played at the Masques are quite delightful and pleasing to the ear. The most beauteous music does come from the lute and mandolin.
Hobbies/Pastimes:
Personal Hygiene: Father has made sure that I keep myself suitable for attendance of court at all times. Fore all in England know well the True disdain the King holds for those that seem foul and rancid.
Favorite Food: I do so love many of the things I have sampled at feasts of the court. My favorite would have to be something found in Canterbury only at the time of the Harvest Festival. It is very simple yet absolutely wonderful on the palate. It is a nice cold apple with a lovely sweet warm sauce on the top made from a combination of fresh churned butter and sugar warmed over the fire until it melts and begins to bubble.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: My mother died when I was a young Maiden, My father, the Lord Mayor, is alive and well. He has remarried a woman just my senior named Anna. I have been at odds with my father as of late, fore he hath betrothed me to Demetrius, whom I love not. My father does not understand the emotions of the heart and I find him newly thick-eared as this matter has risen.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: My mother did die years ago and my father still cannot bring himself to tell me clearly. I have heard whisperings in the lanes, yet refuse to believe any history that comes not from my father.
Favorite place to relax: I do so love sitting by the pond with sweet Helena, we plotted much mischief in our youth along the bank of that pond. My father used to say that I was truly my mothers child with my wild spirit. It is new that we discuss our wishes for a happy life and whom we would like to make a life with.
Favorite Holy Day / Why:
Favorite Drink: My favorite drink is Mulled wine. The warmth and the spices are perfection in the drafty bone-chilling cold of winter.
What's your bedtime: My bedtime is the hour my eyes find themselves shutting to the pitchy sky as the starts do start to appear and glimmer high above my head guiding my thoughts in to merry dreams.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Of course I wear the finest of slippers my father can afford me, although the best are reserved strictly for Masques of the court.
Are you married or single: I am single yet betrothed to Demetrius. He is good-faced yet I do insiste he has won my hand through his Knavery. I know he could care for me beyond proportion whither we go. My heart simply does not reach for him in the ways it does for Lysander. I find him amorous and a clumperton yet I want nothing more in life then to be his until somewhen.
Do you have a family / who are they: That I do, my family are my Father, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, his new wife Anna, the Lady Mayor of Canterbury, my sister Madge who is a lady-in-waiting in the service of Her Majesty, My youngest sister and, of course, Helena must be counted as family as she is so dear to me. We are as sisters unto each other.
Favorite Entertainment: I do so love to attend the theatre. Helena and I do but whisk ourselves away from time to time, veiling our faces, so as not to be recognized. The speech and the actors on stage are so entirely moving I feel as though my mind becomes consumed by those placed before mine eyes.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: I did so love my lessons in Prose and Poetry, for much the same reasons I love the theatre. It is as though the very words on parchment form their own dance in my mind.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: The skills taught in Mathematics were something I vas ne’er able to grasp. How do 2 or 3 different numbers combine to make a different one? It is a good thing that talent in this art is not necessary to the ability of being a good and loving wife.
Favorite Sport: My favorite sport is becoming bowls. Demetrius has been teaching Helena and I about the game and I think I am starting to gain some skill although I am still quite unpredictable. Let me simply say that when I release my aim is not always what I think it should be.
Most Humiliating Moment: Growing up as a lady of the court there is always opportunity for embarrassment if you do not attend yourself closely. I will never forget the morning Lysander found me, as the sky was only starting to lighten, dancing in my sleeping raiment as the rain was pouring down on me. The rain was coming down so loudly that I did not hear Lysander approach, and there he stood watching me and laughing quietly as I found myself soaked by the sweet summer rain. That was the very first time I met him.
Proudest Moment:
Craziest Person or silliest you know: The silliest person I know would be none other than my Lysander. He is such a clumperton at times, yet he always seems to draw out the most jovial of laughter from those around him, even when it is at his own expense.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: You can see him attending the King at court; Kindly with such countenance and the ability to fill all around him with the sensation of security, comfort and confidence. Oh, me, have I mentioned his eyes?!?!?!?!?!
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord" My immediate overlord is my father The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, though he plans for that to change shortly as I am betrothed to Demetrius.
Favorite Sport to watch: My favorite sport to watch is that of tennis. When I do have occasion to find myself at a match I find it most entertaining. I know it is simply looking on as men hit balls back and forth over a net, yet on occasion it can be quite humorous watching as one gentle runs and steps tripping over their own feet in a mad dash to reach the ball and pass it across the net. They can look just as a clumperton making silly movement to make the King laugh. Of course, His Majesty would never move in such a fashion as he is full of grace and swag. I would ne’re be caught laughing at his Majesty, lest I find myself in true disgrace. The other gentles can make it a very a merry occasion with their awkward movement.
Do you remember your first kiss: I have spent many a night dreaming of my first kiss; the wonderful feeling it will provide and who it is with. Those dreams have not been needed as of late!
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: Aye that I do. Helena is still my dearest friend even now, beyond our childhood.
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot:
Have you ever been overseas: Nay, for I have ne’er seem a large stream let alone the sea.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: Our floors are made of stone as mud would be altogether too crude for a family of the kings appointment
What is your bed made of:
How many people sleep in your bed: I am the only person to sleep in my bed as I am a true lady. There are many a night where Helena and I do gossip on ones bed or the other however.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
1. am in love with Lysander and would forswear my dowry for a man such as he
2. I am betrothed to Demetrius.
3. Although my first name is Mary, please do call me Hermia, just as a cousin would
4. My dearest friend, as a sister to me, is Helena
5. I am the daughter of the lord and lady mayor, although the lady mayor is my fathers second wife.
6. I do have my mothers mischevious spirit or such my father proclaims
7. I do wish for Helena to find her greatest happiness, for she seems so sallow these days
8. I am 19 years old…well into marrying age if I do say so myself. If only my Lysander would ask it of me.
9. I have two true sisters
10. I hope to be worthy of the queens court.